Due to significant evidence demonstrating the benefits of human milk for infants (decreased rates of lower respiratory tract infections, severe diarrhea, otitis media, and obesity), the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast milk feeding through six months of life and continuing for two years or as long as mutually desired. Although most infants receive some breast milk, many are not exclusively breastfeeding or continuing to breastfeed as long as recommended. For more information, see Maine Breastfeeding Report from the United States Breastfeeding Committee. 

What the data shows
In Maine, in 2022, the percent of infants fed exclusively human milk at 3 months was 50.5% and the percent of infants fed exclusively human milk at 6 months was just over half that at 28.7%. The rate for the younger infants had been as high as 53.7% in 2016, while for older infants, the highest rate was in 2018 at 34.1%. 

Due to significant evidence demonstrating the benefits of human milk for infants (decreased rates of lower respiratory tract infections, severe diarrhea, otitis media, and obesity), the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast milk feeding through six months of life and continuing for two years or as long as mutually desired. Although most infants receive some breast milk, many are not exclusively breastfeeding or continuing to breastfeed as long as recommended. For more information, see Maine Breastfeeding Report from the United States Breastfeeding Committee. 

What the data shows
In Maine, in 2022, the percent of infants fed exclusively human milk at 3 months was 50.5% and the percent of infants fed exclusively human milk at 6 months was just over half that at 28.7%. The rate for the younger infants had been as high as 53.7% in 2016, while for older infants, the highest rate was in 2018 at 34.1%.